These Common Website Mistakes Hurt Small Businesses

A business website must do three things. First, it needs to help your business be found by potential customers seeking your services online. Second, once a person lands on the site, it needs to provide engaging information that hooks visitors. Third, and most importantly, it needs to convert them from looky-loos to customers by pushing them to contact you, schedule online or purchase your products directly. There are several mistakes website builders make that can prevent a site from doing its job, including the following.
Unclear Message
One of the most important aspects of your site is its message, especially regarding services rendered. If your site copy doesn’t clearly state offerings or your area of expertise, people are going to bounce -- and fast. Plainly stating what your business does is key to website success.
Poor Grammar
Aside from issuing vague statements about your business’ goods and services, poor grammar ranks high in reasons people choose not to use a company. If writing is not your strong suit, consider partnering with a web presence team that can create a custom website for you.
Visual Mess
More pictures does not equal more appeal. Your website should have a proper balance of visuals and copy, the former complimenting the latter when necessary. Remember, photos and other graphics are also key to boosting SEO, but more on that in a moment.
Difficult Navigation
Your website’s navigation bar should be simple and concise. Try and limit your website to about five or six pages, including home, but not including additional blog type landing pages. Each page should be named precisely for what it covers, but be specific. Instead of “Services,” consider “Auto Repair Services.”
Improper/No SEO
Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the practice of enhancing a website’s chances of being highly ranked in search results. Common SEO methods include using specific keywords in copy, including metadata for images, and properly naming page titles and section titles with relevant terms. It’s also important to constantly update your website with blogs or fresh content to ensure it is being indexed by search engines.
No Testimonials
If you’re making bold claims about your capabilities on your website, it’s best to back them up by including real reviews on your website. Shoppers respond to reviews, acknowledging them as a sort of word of mouth recommendation from a reliable source.
Subtle or No Call To Action
Most importantly, you need a solid call to action. If an actual on site purchase isn’t the goal, be clear that you want people to call to schedule an appointment or to fill out your online form for more information. A person calling or otherwise contacting you is a conversion who is one step away from spending money at your business.
In the 21st century a visually stimulating and well written website is a necessary component of business success, even if that business’ operations primarily take place offline. MORBiZ, a local web presence leader, is constantly improving our clients’ websites to maximize their appeal and performance. If you’d like to learn how a new small business website and web presence campaign will benefit you, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free evaluation. Give our team of Internet marketing experts a call at 1-855-2MORBiZ or use this contact form to get started today.









